Biochemical characterization and cytotoxic effect of the skin secretion from the red-spotted Argentina frog Argenteohyla siemersi (Anura: Hylidae)

Background: Argenteohyla siemersi (red-spotted Argentina frog) is a casque-headed tree frog species belonging to the Hylidae family. This species has a complex combination of anti-predator defense mechanisms that include a highly lethal skin secretion. However, biochemical composition and biological effects of this secretion have not yet been studied. Methods: The A. siemersi skin secretion samples were analyzed by mass spectrometry and chromatographic analysis (MALDI-TOF/MS, RP-HPLC and GC-MS). Proteins were also studied by SDS-PAGE. Among the biological activities evaluated, several enzymatic activities (hemolytic, phospholipase A2 , clotting, proteolytic and amidolytic) were assessed. Furthermore, the cytotoxic activity (cytolysis and fluorescence staining) was evaluated on myoblasts of the C2C12 cell line. Results: The MALDI-TOF/MS analysis identified polypeptides and proteins in the aqueous solution of A. siemersi skin secretion. SDS-PAGE revealed the presence of proteins with molecular masses from 15 to 55 kDa. Steroids, but no alkaloids or peptides (less than 5 kDa), were detected using mass spectrometry. Skin secretion revealed the presence of lipids in methanolic extract, as analyzed by CG-MS. This secretion showed hemolytic and phospholipase A2 activities, but was devoid of amidolytic, proteolytic or clotting activities. Moreover, dose-dependent cytotoxicity in cultured C2C12 myoblasts of the skin secretion was demonstrated. Morphological analysis, quantification of lactate dehydrogenase release and fluorescence staining indicated that the cell death triggered by this secretion involved necrosis. Conclusions: Results presented herein evidence the biochemical composition and biological effects of A. siemersi skin secretion and contribute to the knowledge on the defense mechanisms of casque-headed frogs.Fil: Fusco, Luciano Sebastian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Naturales y Agrimensura. Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Cajade, Rodrigo. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Naturales y Agrimensura. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Herpetología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Piñeiro, Jose Miguel. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Naturales y Agrimensura. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Herpetología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Torres, Ana M.. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: da Silva, Igor R. F.. Universidade Estadual de Campinas; BrasilFil: Hyslop, Stephen. Universidade Estadual de Campinas; BrasilFil: Leiva, Laura Cristina Ana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Naturales y Agrimensura. Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Pimenta, Daniel C.. Governo do Estado de Sao Paulo. Secretaria da Saude. Instituto Butantan; BrasilFil: Bustillo, Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Naturales y Agrimensura. Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino; Argentin

Familias jurídicas y disciplinas en el estudio del derecho

Fil: Walter, Gustavo R. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Basanta, Alicia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Barrionuevo, Daniel. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Leiva, Patricia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Marcial, Adriana. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Chalhub Frau, Silvana. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Assandri, Mónica. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Rinaldi, Sandra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Robledo, Federico. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.El presente cuadernillo desarrolla ejercicios que presentan a las familias jurídicas en tanto categorías generales en el campo del derecho; sobresaliendo por sobre la gran variedad de ordenamientos jurídicos particulares. Las familias jurídicas son presentadas aquí en función de tradiciones filosóficas, culturales, políticas, geográficas e históricas distintas.Fil: Walter, Gustavo R. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Basanta, Alicia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Barrionuevo, Daniel. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Leiva, Patricia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Marcial, Adriana. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Chalhub Frau, Silvana. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Assandri, Mónica. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Rinaldi, Sandra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Robledo, Federico. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Otras Derech

Pleiotrophin-Loaded Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles as a Possible Treatment for Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is the most common type of bone disease. Conventional treatments are based on the use of antiresorptive drugs and/or anabolic agents. However, these treatments have certain limitations, such as a lack of bioavailability or toxicity in non-specific tissues. In this regard, pleiotrophin (PTN) is a protein with potent mitogenic, angiogenic, and chemotactic activity, with implications in tissue repair. On the other hand, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have proven to be an effective inorganic drug-delivery system for biomedical applications. In addition, the surface anchoring of cationic polymers, such as polyethylenimine (PEI), allows for greater cell internalization, increasing treatment efficacy. In order to load and release the PTN to improve its effectiveness, MSNs were successfully internalized in MC3T3-E1 mouse pre-osteoblastic cells and human mesenchymal stem cells. PTN-loaded MSNs significantly increased the viability, mineralization, and gene expression of alkaline phosphatase and Runx2 in comparison with the PTN alone in both cell lines, evidencing its positive effect on osteogenesis and osteoblast differentiation. This proof of concept demonstrates that MSN can take up and release PTN, developing a potent osteogenic and differentiating action in vitro in the absence of an osteogenic differentiation-promoting medium, presenting itself as a possible treatment to improve bone-regeneration and osteoporosis scenarios

Análisis de factibilidad para el desarrollo de un prototipo que calcule en tiempo real de la humedad de la yerba a la salida del sapecador

Este proyecto presenta el análisis de la factibilidad para el desarrollo de un prototipo que calcule en tiempo-real la humedad de la yerba mate a la salida del sapecador. Para lo cual se utilizarán técnicas de inteligencia artificial, reconocimiento de patrones y análisis de imágenes.Eje: Procesamiento de señales y sistemas en tiempo realRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Fotointerpretación aplicada al estudio de la cuenca del Río Negro Provincia del Chaco : Cartografía

Fil: Popolizio, Eliseo. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Humanidades; Argentina.Fil: Serra, Pilar Yolanda. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Humanidades; Argentina.Fil: Foschiatti, Ana María. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Humanidades; Argentina.Fil: Medina, Carmen A. G de. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Humanidades; Argentina.Fil: Gaborov, Daniel R. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Humanidades; Argentina.Fil: Leiva, Carlos A. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Humanidades; Argentina.Fil: Bobadilla, Ramón A. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Humanidades; Argentina.Este trabajo se realizó por convenio entre la Administración Provincial de Recursos Hídricos de la Provincia del Chaco y la Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, firmado por el Agrimensor Orfilio Viganotti, en representación de la primera, y los Sres, Decanos de las Facultades de Ingeniería y Humanidades, Ing. Mario Bruno Natalini y Prof. Luis Ise, por la segunda.El trabajo se centra en tareas de fotointerpretación sobre el aspecto geomorfológico de la Cuenca del Río Negro a fin de reconocer formas del relieve que puedan a llegar a comportarse como condicionantes del escurrimiento, detectar también las unidades fisonómicas de la vegetación existente y su vinculación con la morfología y el escurrimiento. Establecer las características de la dinámica del escurrimiento

Arterial Stiffness: Its Relation with Prediabetes and Metabolic Syndrome and Possible Pathogenesis

Aims: To evaluate arterial stiffness indicators in people with prediabetes (PreD) and its possible pathogenesis. Materials and methods: Pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured in 208 people with FINDRISC ≥ 13 (57 ± 8 years old, 68.7% women) and thereafter divided into those having either normal glucose tolerance (NGT) or PreD. In each subgroup we also identified those with/out insulin resistance (IR) measured by the triglyceride/HDL-c ratio (normal cut off values previously established in our population). Clinical and metabolic data were collected for all participants. PWV was compared between subgroups using independent t test. Results: Women and men had comparable clinical and metabolic characteristics with obesity (BMI ≥ 30) and antihypertensive-statin treatment, almost half with either NGT or PreD. Whereas 48% of NGT people presented IR (abnormally high TG/HDL-c ratio), 52% had PreD. PWV was significantly higher only in those with a complete picture of metabolic syndrome (MS). Conclusions: Since PWV was significantly impaired in people with a complete picture of MS, clinicians must carefully search for early diagnosis of this condition and prescribe a healthy life-style to prevent development/progression of CVD. This proactive attitude would provide a cost-effective preventive strategy to avoid CVD’s negative impact on patients’ quality of life and on health systems due to their higher care costs.Centro de Endocrinología Experimental y AplicadaFacultad de Ciencias Médica

Pre diabetes and arterial stiffness: its identification and posible pathogenesis

Introducción: antecedentes: en el estadio de prediabetes (PreD) aparecen marcadores de lesión vascular que indican la necesidad de identificación precoz y tratamiento oportuno. Objetivos: evaluar los indicadores de rigidez arterial en personas con PreD y su posible patogenia.Introduction: background: in the prediabetes stage (PreD), vascular lesion markers appear indicating the need for early identification and timely treatment. Aims: To evaluate arterial stiffness indicators in people with prediabetes (PreD) and its possible pathogenesis.Publicado en Revista de la Sociedad Argentina de Diabetes, vol. 54, no. 3, Sup.Centro de Endocrinología Experimental y Aplicad

Fotointerpretación aplicada al estudio de la cuenca del Río Negro (Provincia del Chaco) : Cartografía

 Este trabajo se realizó por convenio entre la Administración Provincial de Recursos Hídricos de la Provincia del Chaco y la Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, firmado por el Agrimensor Orfilio Viganotti, en representación de la primera, y los Sres, Decanos de las Facultades de Ingeniería y Humanidades, Ing. Mario Bruno Natalini y Prof. Luis Ise, por la segunda.El trabajo se centra en tareas de fotointerpretación sobre el aspecto geomorfológico de la Cuenca del Río Negro a fin de reconocer formas del relieve que puedan a llegar a comportarse como condicionantes del escurrimiento, detectar también las unidades fisonómicas de la vegetación existente y su vinculación con la morfología y el escurrimiento. Establecer las características de la dinámica del escurrimiento

Is it possible to diagnose the therapeutic adherence of patients with COPD in clinical practice? A cohort study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Therapeutic adherence of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is poor. It is therefore necessary to determine the magnitude of non-adherence to develop strategies to correct this behaviour. The purpose of this study was to analyse the diagnostic validity of indirect adherence methods.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Sample: 195 COPD patients undergoing scheduled inhaled treatment attending 5 Primary Care Centres of Malaga, Spain. Variables: Sociodemographic profile, illness data, spirometry, quality of life (St. George Respiratory Questionnaire: SGRQ), and inhaled medication counting (count of dose/pill or electronic monitoring) were collected. The patient's knowledge of COPD (Batalla test:BT),their attitude towards treatment (Morisky-Green test: MGT) and their self-reported therapeutic adherence (Haynes-Sackett test: HST) were used as methods of evaluating adherence. The follow-up consisted four visits over one year (the recruitment visit: V0; and after 1 month:V1; 6 months:V2; and 1 year:V3).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mean age was 69.59 (95% CI, 68.29-70.89) years old and 93.8% were male. Other findings included: 85.4% had a low educational level, 23.6% were smokers, 71.5% mild-moderate COPD stage with a FEV1 = 56.86 (SD = 18.85); exacerbations per year = 1.41(95% CI, 1-1.8). The total SGRQ score was 44.96 (95% CI, 42.46-47.46), showing a mild self-perceived impairment in health. The prevalence of adherence (dose/pill count) was 68.1% (95% CI, 60.9-75.3) at V1, 80% (95% CI, 73-87) at V2 and 84% (95% CI, 77.9) at V3. The MGT showed a specificity of 67.34% at V1, 76.19% at V2 and 69.62% at V3. The sensitivity was 53.33% at V1, 66.66% at V2 and 33.33% at V3.The BT showed a specificity of 55.1% at V1, 70.23% at V2 and 67.09% at V3. The sensitivity was 68.88% at V1, 71.43% at V2 and 46.66% at V3. Considering both tests together, the specificity was 86.73% at V1, 94.04% at V2 and 92.49% at V3 and the sensitivity was 37.77% at V1, 47.62% at V2 and 13.3% at V3.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The prevalence of treatment adherence changes over time. Indirect methods (dose/pill count and self-reported) can be useful to detect non-adherence in COPD patients. The combination of MGT and BT is the best approach to test self-reported adherence.</p